Most often it is the library administrator who, using [[statistics]] and a [[Sample benchmarking process|benchmarking process]], discussions of use patterns, and projections for the future, makes the case for beginning a building or renovation plan.

Most often it is the library administrator who, using [[statistics]] and a [[Sample benchmarking process|benchmarking process]], discussions of use patterns, and projections for the future, makes the case for beginning a building or renovation plan.

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Rough estimates as to the funding needed can be determined from the annual reports of similar building projects referenced on [http://www.ala.org/library/fact11.html ALA Library Fact Sheet Number 11: Building Libraries and Library Additions: A Selected Annotated Bibliography], but a detailed feasibility study, and architect and contractor support, may prove necessary to determine the extent of funds needed to be raised. Most jurisdictions require an architect to do specific planning, but a [http://www.ala.org/library/fact9.html library building consultant] may be helpful to the library administrator in evaluating the current building and making recommendations--and for helping to communicate the specific library needs. Throughout, the needs of the community served and the overall program of the library dictate the building plans. [[Planning and Assessment|Planning and assessment]] is key! See also the [[Request for Proposal (RFP)]] page for resources on finding sample library building RFPs.

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Rough estimates as to the funding needed can be determined from the annual reports of similar building projects referenced on [http://www.ala.org/tools/libfactsheets/alalibraryfactsheet11 ALA Library Fact Sheet Number 11: Building Libraries and Library Additions: A Selected Annotated Bibliography], but a detailed feasibility study, and architect and contractor support, may prove necessary to determine the extent of funds needed to be raised. Most jurisdictions require an architect to do specific planning, but a [http://www.ala.org/tools/libfactsheets/alalibraryfactsheet09 library building consultant] may be helpful to the library administrator in evaluating the current building and making recommendations--and for helping to communicate the specific library needs. Throughout, the needs of the community served and the overall program of the library dictate the building plans. [[Planning and Assessment|Planning and assessment]] is key! See also the [[Request for Proposal (RFP)]] page for resources on finding sample library building RFPs.

Libris DESIGN was a library facility planning information system and downloadable database that was developed for California Public Library planners in 2005. Most helpful for library building purposes was the [http://web.archive.org/web/20091006082541/http://librisdesign.org/docs/index.html Libris Design Planning Documentation (via Archive.org)], retrieved here via the Internet Archive, which was a set of reports, as DOC and PDF files, covering various interior and exterior library building topics and issues. Put http://librisdesign.org/docs/index.html into the box for the [http://archive.org/web/web.php Internet Archive Wayback Machine] to access the reports on:

About

Most librarians don't build a library more than once or twice in our careers, if even then, though many of us undertake renovation projects of various sizes, or a library move. This page offers the key places to start researching the process.

Most often it is the library administrator who, using statistics and a benchmarking process, discussions of use patterns, and projections for the future, makes the case for beginning a building or renovation plan.